International Research by Students Programme

Bellingcat

Our first research project will be conducted in joint partnership with Bellingcat, an UK based independent group that conducts high level investigative journalism. Bellingcat was founded in 2014 after a kickstarter campaign by founder Elliot Higgins, it currently employs a small team and has volunteers around the world. Their investigative journalism is mainly focused on open source and social media investigation.

Additionally, Bellingcat publishes findings of citizens journalists and provides workshops to help and encourage others to adopt the same approach. Major findings by Bellingcat were made on the Syrian war, the Ukraine conflict, Malaysia airlines flight 17 shot down over the Ukraine and several Mexican drug lord conflicts.

The research conducted for Bellingcat concerns the examination of the disinformation of campaigns targeting the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD). The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, are a civil defence organization based in Syria who function as an aid unit that provide emergency help to those in danger. However, the SCD is being targeted by a disinformation campaign alleging that they would be Western based due to occidental funding and would be part of a terrorist group. The aim of this research is to identify and examine the themes that have been used to target the SCD as well as the associated evidence or the lack of it. Important elements of the research are when these themes gained or lost prominence, who promoted these themes and how these themes were spread. Ultimately, a report will be draft containing recommendations on how to counter the disinformation campaign.

Throughout the research process the researchers will be supervised by John Hogan, a lecturer at the IR department, who has past experience conducting research on the African Union and International Organisations.